PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason King (ranked 3784 p4p, 2913 weight class) and William OConnor (ranked 461 p4p, 367 weight class). King comes to the cage accompanied by Hail To The King. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

King
vs
OConnor

188 cm
27
184
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
190
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Tends to cut

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William OConnor!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King tries to keep at a distance but OConnor has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that King has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

King ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. King no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
OConnor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
OConnor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with King. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
OConnor tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.

King is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
King keeping full guard, as OConnor tries to pass.
King trying to keep a closed guard but OConnor is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King working a defensive guard here.

OConnor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
King is breathing heavily.
King is trying to control the position but OConnor postures up.
OConnor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that OConnor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
OConnor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

OConnor clinches.

King has clasped his hands together around OConnor's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
OConnor wants to control but King postures up.
OConnor is being controlled here.
You can see the frustration on OConnor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
OConnor controls the position for a moment.
OConnor felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
OConnor is trying to control King's posture but King avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King trying to control the action but OConnor is working from the bottom.
OConnor can't do much from the bottom here.

King working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
OConnor tries to bench press King off him but King keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
OConnor struggling a bit here.
OConnor gets back to half guard.
King is looking to take a break and control but OConnor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
King is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but OConnor is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
OConnor lands an elbow just above King 's eye.
OConnor crunches a lovely knee into King's ribcage.
King prevents a body shot from OConnor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William OConnor dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

OConnor darts in and clinches King up against the cage.

OConnor jumps guard and drags King to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
King stays in close to OConnor's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

King drops back, looking for a kneebar! OConnor looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. OConnor looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from OConnor!

OConnor staying calm.
OConnor working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee asks OConnor politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. OConnor prefers to stall for the moment though.
OConnor is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnor might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control King haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
OConnor slows the pace down.
King is not content to let OConnor control the position.
OConnor happy to just control the position for now.
OConnor tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
OConnor taking a break here but King is having none of it and regains half guard.
OConnor sitting and controlling from the half guard.
King is looking for a sweep. OConnor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
OConnor stalling.
OConnor is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
OConnor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
OConnor is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is looking for a sweep. OConnor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
OConnor with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

OConnor closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.
King prevents a body shot from OConnor.
King is trying to work for a single leg takedown but OConnor pulls him back up using the underhooks.
OConnor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.

OConnor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
OConnor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
William OConnor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - OConnor circles away.
Jason King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

King drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

OConnor throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

OConnor forces King back against the cage and clinches.
OConnor lands a knee to the head.
OConnor can't find room to land a body shot as King controls the action.
OConnor struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
King tries to pull guard but OConnor won't allow it.
OConnor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
King blocks a body shot from OConnor.
King goes for a takedown attempt but OConnor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OConnor has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
OConnor tries to clinch but King is having none of it.

OConnor rushes King and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William OConnor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

OConnor closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.
OConnor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from King.
OConnor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and King avoids it.
OConnor tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing OConnor back against the cage.

OConnor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
OConnor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
King content to stall in guard here.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

King has gone for a leg lock! OConnor slips out almost immediately though and dives into King's guard.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnor is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
OConnor postures up.
OConnor content to stall in guard here.
OConnor preventing the sweep.
OConnor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
OConnor trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
OConnor sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

OConnor closes the distance and clinches.
King is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but OConnor is defending well.
King is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but OConnor is defending well.
OConnor tries a body shot but King blocks it.
OConnor tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.
OConnor lands an elbow inside.
OConnor working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
OConnor misses with a punch to the body.
OConnor lands a nice knee to the body.
OConnor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through King's defenses.
OConnor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
OConnor tries to work over King's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
William OConnor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OConnor breaks from the clinch.

OConnor pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
OConnor misses with a body punch.
King tries to circle away but OConnor has him pinned against the cage.
William OConnor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
King managing to block the knees to the body from OConnor.
King has had enough of the clinch but OConnor keeps him there for the moment.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
OConnor misses with a body punch.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as OConnor walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OConnor tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OConnor stuffs the takedown.

OConnor darts in and clinches King up against the cage.

OConnor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

OConnor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
King managing to block the knees to the body from OConnor.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, OConnor just misses with a elbow thrown towards King's brow.
King tries to pull guard but OConnor holds him up against the cage and eventually King drops back down to his feet.
OConnor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
William OConnor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well OConnor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William OConnor!
The defeated Jason King had this to say: 'Major respect to my opponent, we both came ti battle and he was the better man tonight'.